Yesterday evening, miracles began happening!

Around 7PM, the weather suddenly and totally shifted and it became just a glorious evening. Here is a photo I took from the upstairs window, looking out over my neighbors’ backyards. Nary so much as a hint of rain:

And if you’re interested in some of the history of Crazeysburg (and there actually is quite a lot, because back in olden times, people actually used to live here…)

Anyway. If you look closely between a couple of those houses, you’ll see a large boat. That boat is actually docked on what’s left of a very old canal. (There’s actually an alley and an old canal running diagonally between that white house and that boat.)

Anyway, Crazeysburg used to be one of the Ohio locks on the Erie Canal. I believe we were Lock #19 but I’m not positive. It would have looked a little like this (although this lock is one county over, Lock #18):

And while it was foggy when I awoke this morning at 6AM, the fog cleared pretty quickly and suddenly it was a really, really pretty morning!

And since God saw fit to give me a really nice 4th of July holiday, I, in turn, kept my promise to the world-at-large, and I got out of bed, threw on some shorts and a tee shirt, and I went outside and did some weeding!! Yay. Finally.

The story of my weeds is a frustrating one.

Since last summer, I have had a nice and very reliable 13-year-old neighbor boy who cuts my grass every week. He is not a “professional lawncare guy”, as I’ve had for every single summer since I moved away from NYC, but he was very reliable and he did cut my grass. He just never even so much as touched any of the weeds, so I would do that part myself.

This year, he asked if I wanted his friend to whack all my weeds for an additional $10 a week. And I was very happy to say, “Yes!”

Well, 2 months of paying the extra $10 a week — and my weeds were basically out of control. So I let the $10-a-week part of the two boys go.

But now my weeds were out of control and I had to deal with it. Yay.

However, deal with it I finally did!

I don’t use any kind of chemicals on my yard, so I had to pull them all out by hand.

I got about 85% of it done this morning before it just became way too hot to stay out there another minute. But I was so happy to get that much done.

And yesterday, after Sandra and I finished working on the play, and before I had my wonderful weekly chat with Val in Brooklyn, I came to a momentous decision: for the rest of my 4-day holiday (I’m on day #3 now), I am not doing any more “work” (i.e., stuff having to do with the play); I am only going to spend time writing Novitiate.

Valerie said yesterday: “If you want to work on your zazzle store tomorrow, or if you want help getting MarilynsRoomBooks.com setup, give me a call.”

And even though I usually drop everything to chat (or work over the phone) with Val, I said: “Val, I’m only working on Novitiate tomorrow, and for the rest of my days off!”

So I feel pretty excited here this morning, gang.

And with that, I am going to get started around here.

Have a wonderful 4th of July, if you live State-side. And if you don’t, then be like Keith — marry a famous American supermodel, move to Connecticut, raise a couple of really pretty blonde daughters, and celebrate the 4th that way!!!

From Keith’s Instagram page just now:

Have a terrific Tuesday, whatever you end up doing!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys! See ya!

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Just some of my outside-pulling-the-weeds-bright-and-early music from this morning!

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, oddly enough, also the summer of 1978! “The Promised Land” — and I still believe in it, gang! Enjoy!!!! (Yes, you gotta play it loud — otherwise you won’t hear it all the way outside on your front walk…)

“The Promised Land”

On a rattlesnake speedway in the Utah desert
I pick up my money and head back into town
Driving ‘cross the Waynesboro county line
I got the radio on and I’m just killing time
Working all day in my daddy’s garage
Driving all night chasing some mirage
Pretty soon little girl I’m gonna take charge

The dogs on Main Street howl ’cause they understand
If I could take one moment into my hands
Mister I ain’t a boy, no I’m a man
And I believe in a promised land

I’ve done my best to live the right way
I get up every morning and go to work each day
But your eyes go blind and your blood runs cold
Sometimes I feel so weak I just want to explode
Explode and tear this whole town apart
Take a knife and cut this pain from my heart
Find somebody itching for something to start

The dogs on Main Street howl ’cause they understand
If I could reach one moment into my hands
Mister I ain’t a boy, no I’m a man
And I believe in a promised land

Well there’s a dark cloud rising from the desert floor
I packed my bags and I’m heading straight into the storm
Gonna be a twister to blow everything down
That ain’t got the faith to stand its ground
Blow away the dreams that tear you apart
Blow away the dreams that break your heart
Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and brokenhearted

The dogs on Main Street howl ’cause they understand
If I could take one moment into my hands
Mister I ain’t a boy, no I’m a man
And I believe in a promised land

c- 1978 Bruce Springsteen